6 June 2007: Australia - Save lives at railway crossings

[ozbob]

Media Release 6 June 2007

Australia:  Save lives at railway crossings.

RAIL ? Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has expressed condolences to all concerned with the recent level crossing crash in Kerang.

Robert Dow, on behalf of RAIL Back On Track said:

?Australia has many railway crossings.  It is time that a national policy was implemented. The level crossing crash in Kerang highlights that action is needed today.  It is time all heavy vehicles were required to stop, look and listen, and then proceed with caution at all railway crossings without booms or other gates.  This would include all trucks and buses.  This could be enacted overnight in every state. Installing protection such as booms or gates at most railway crossings is then required as soon as possible, particularly in view of the increased speed of todays trains.?

Contact:

admin@backontrack.org
Administration RAIL Back On Track

http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

Note this.

http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=71.0

Admin

[ozbob]

Letter sent to Premiers and Ministers of Transport  7th June 2007

Dear Premiers, Ministers and Members,

Yesterday we forwarded a media release from RAIL Back On Track concerning immediate actions that could be taken to help make railway crossings safe today.

I urge you all to consider the immediate imposition of at least a 50km speed limit on the approaches to all railroad crossings. Our preferred position is that all heavy vehicles (buses and trucks) are required to stop, look and listen and then proceed.  That is possibly unacceptable politically, but surely the immediate mandate of approach speed limits is something that can done immediately.  Do we have to wait for another horrendous accident?  This would not cost a lot initially and would send a strong signal to all road users that safety is serious business.

The Australasian Railway Association Inc. has long been suggesting the introduction of realistic penalties for breaches of road rules related to rail crossings.  Others have come up with more technical solutions.  Sometimes however, the simple solutions are the best immediate course of action.  Ultimately separation of road from rail is the best outcome, but clearly not practical in all situations at this time.  RAIL Back On Track has previously raised this issue too --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=71.0

We urge you all to consider what can be done today to increase safety for all Australians.   Why wait for yet more inquiries and expert review panels when immediate actions are obvious?

Yours sincerely,

Robert B Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org



Copy of media release

Media Release 6 June 2007

Australia:  Save lives at railway crossings

RAIL ? Back On Track (http://backontrack.org) a web based community organisation for the promotion of rail throughout Australia has expressed condolences to all concerned with the recent level crossing crash in Kerang.

Robert Dow, on behalf of RAIL Back On Track said:

?Australia has many railway crossings.  It is time that a national policy was implemented. The level crossing crash in Kerang highlights that action is needed today.  It is time all heavy vehicles were required to stop, look and listen, and then proceed with caution at all railway crossings without booms or other gates.  This would include all trucks and buses.  This could be enacted overnight in every state. Installing protection such as booms or gates at most railway crossings is then required as soon as possible, particularly in view of the increased speed of todays trains.?

Contact:

Robert Dow
admin@backontrack.org
Administration RAIL Back On Track

http://backontrack.org

[ozbob]

I think this highlights why something needs to be done today.

----------------------------------------------------------

From ABC Online News
http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/200706/s1944532.htm

Train drivers reported Kerang near misses

The Victorian Government says action was taken after reports of five near-misses at the Kerang level crossing a year ago.

Transport Minister Lynn Kosky says five train drivers made official complaints about close calls with cars and trucks that were trying to beat the trains at the crossing.

Eleven people were killed on Tuesday afternoon when a truck collided with a passenger train at the crossing.

Ms Kosky says road markings were changed and police mounted a local campaign to improve road behaviour in the wake of the earlier warnings.

But she says an assessment did not reveal any urgent need to upgrade the crossing to include boom gates.

"We do have three in-depth investigations in place at the moment and the point of these investigations is to tell us what happened, how it happened and whether it could have been prevented," she said.

"Obviously they'll take all of this information into account and make recommendations.

"I'm really waiting for those recommendations but we certainly acted on the concerns that were raised at the time."

[ozbob]

The Melbourne Age ( article click here ) has a report that the Premier of Victoria is considering the immediate implementation of possible speed restrictions, rumble strips and flashing lights.

RAIL Back On Track applauds these actions.  Longer term fixes pending results of inquiries and studies are extremly important, but as the Premier has suggested there are things that can be done today.

Admin
RAIL Back On Track

[ozbob]

Level crossing crashes between vehicles and trains still occurring.

Latest ...


One dead in level crossing smash

By Karen Collier

August 22, 2007 11:29am
Article from: Herald Sun

A TRUCK driver was killed in a level crossing smash on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula this morning.

The collision between a light truck and a train occured at Somerville at 10.45am.

The truck driver, aged about 55, was killed when he was thrown from the cab of the truck, police said.

The crossing at Bungower Rd was controlled by bells and flashing lights.

The service, carrying up to 40 passengers, was running on the Stony Point/Frankston line.  Police said all seemed to have escaped injury.

More click here!

RAIL Back On Track restates this position:

Letter sent to Premiers and Ministers of Transport  7th June 2007

Dear Premiers, Ministers and Members,

Yesterday we forwarded a media release from RAIL Back On Track concerning immediate actions that could be taken to help make railway crossings safe today.

I urge you all to consider the immediate imposition of at least a 50km speed limit on the approaches to all railroad crossings. Our preferred position is that all heavy vehicles (buses and trucks) are required to stop, look and listen and then proceed.  That is possibly unacceptable politically, but surely the immediate mandate of approach speed limits is something that can done immediately.  Do we have to wait for another horrendous accident?  This would not cost a lot initially and would send a strong signal to all road users that safety is serious business.

The Australasian Railway Association Inc. has long been suggesting the introduction of realistic penalties for breaches of road rules related to rail crossings.  Others have come up with more technical solutions.  Sometimes however, the simple solutions are the best immediate course of action.  Ultimately separation of road from rail is the best outcome, but clearly not practical in all situations at this time.  RAIL Back On Track has previously raised this issue too --> http://backontrack.org/mbs/index.php?topic=71.0

We urge you all to consider what can be done today to increase safety for all Australians.   Why wait for yet more inquiries and expert review panels when immediate actions are obvious?

Yours sincerely,

Robert B Dow
Administration
RAIL Back On Track
http://backontrack.org